PASS IT ON

In a relay race, runners carry a baton. At a certain point in the race, each runner will pass the baton to the next runner, who will continue the race after them.

God's Word is like a baton. It is meant to be passed on to successive generations, who will continue God's work after us. Asaph, an ancient music leader, wrote about passing the Word of God to successive generations in Psalm 78. He wrote:

For He established a testimony in Jacob,

And appointed a law in Israel,

Which He commanded our fathers,

That they should make them known to their children;

That the generation to come might know them,

The children who would be born,

That they may arise and declare them to their children.

(Psalm 78:5-6, NKJV)

God gave His testimony and law to the Israelites. He gave the law to Moses, who recorded it and gave it to Israel. God also gave His word to prophets, who also recorded it and gave it to Israel. The nation had received a great spiritual treasure.

The original recipients of God's Word passed them on to their children. In fact, God commanded them to teach His Word to their children and teach them what God had done for them.

The children who received God's Word, were to teach it to their children. The plan was for God's Word to be passed from generation to generation, from age to age. Indeed, God's Word is still being passed from generation to generation today. Even if someone has no biological children, they can pass God's Word on to someone in the next generation and serve as a mentor to that person.

Not only were they to pass on God's Word, they were also to obey it. Asaph, later in the psalm, warned the reader not to disobey God, as their fathers had done. We can learn from the mistakes of previous generations and do better.

The baton has been passed to you. Take God's Word. Obey it. Pass it on.